New Delhi, March 28 The Indian U23 men's national team defeated Bhutan 5-0 in the 2026 U23 Tri-Nation Championship at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, on Saturday.
Suhail Ahmad Bhat (51', 81') scored a brace, while Ricky Meetei Haobam (44'), Tomba Singh Haobam (79'), and Muhammed Ajsal (85') each scored one.
This victory puts India at the top of the table in the tournament. The Blue Colts are level on points (three) with Tajikistan, who had defeated Bhutan 1-0 earlier this week.
The Indian U23s, coached by Naushad Moosa, dominated the match from the start, although they missed several early chances. However, they finally scored in the 23rd minute, when Adison Singh Thokchom crossed the ball to the top corner, which was saved by the Bhutan goalkeeper.
The Blue Colts continued to press, and finally took the lead just before half-time, when Ricky struck the ball from outside the box to beat the goalkeeper, planting it into the bottom corner.
Inspired by the goal, the home side came out strongly in the second half and extended their lead within six minutes of the restart. Adison, who was played through into the Bhutan box, squared it with the outside of his right foot to Suhail, who calmly poked it past the keeper.
India looked intent on building a bigger lead and came close to scoring more on a couple of occasions. In the 71st minute, Ajsal was played through behind the defence and tried to chip the keeper, but Bhutan defender Gayden Rinchen cleared it off the line.
Bhutan captain Pema Zangpo pulled off a goalline clearance just a few minutes later, when Huidrom Thoi Singh was played through on the right after an intricate free-kick. The India substitute drilled it goalwards, as the ball slipped through the goalkeeper's legs. Zangpo, alert to the danger, rushed in to head it off the line.
The floodgates truly opened in the 79th minute, when substitute Tomba Singh Haobam blasted one from outside the box, into the bottom corner, making it 3-0. A couple of minutes later, Suhail was played through on the right, rushed into the box and laced it to bulge the net, adding India's fourth goal.
Suhail turned provider for India's fifth goal, as he chipped an aerial through ball to Ajsal, who ran in between the defensive lines to take a touch inside the box, and finish.
